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Building healthy habits can be a game-changer for our well-being, by creating structure and balance in our busy lives. Whether it’s exercising regularly, getting outside or taking time for self-care, routines have a way of keeping us grounded and improving our mental and physical health.
But let’s be real — life can be busy, overwhelming and often unpredictable, so sticking to these good intentions is easier said than done. Before you know it, work, family and daily demands can throw you off track if you don’t have a solid routine.
We recently connected with two Calgarians who transformed their rollercoaster-like health journey into a consistent, sustainable lifestyle. Nikki Brulé is a green cuisine chef, wellness advocate and was the owner of the former Yummi Yogis food truck, while Hayden Gladstone is a fitness, nutrition and mindset coach.
We interviewed them to share their story, and how they’ve prioritized health, movement and wellness into the busyness of everyday life, so you can create healthy habits that last (even when life tries to get in the way).
[Kelsey] So excited to chat with you two today! So to start, tell us a bit of your story to finding a healthy routine that works for you.
[Nikki] So Hayden and I both experienced similar extremes on our individual journeys to wellness, like food obsession, extreme restriction and a deep dislike for our own bodies. I was on a rollercoaster of binge eating, drugs and alcohol for years.
[Hayden] For me, it was hard, repetitive workouts that broke me down over time. Now that we’ve worked through these un-healthy habits, exercising and eating well has become a normal part of our lives. It wasn’t easy, but we became more resilient, and now find that our desired habits come more easily because they’re so engrained.
[Nikki] The coolest thing we’ve noticed is that this ease expanded to other areas of our lives, like family, relationships, money, career and even in our community. Because we now understand what we need to feel our best, and that’s what we help other people do too.
[Kelsey] What are some common patterns you’ve seen people struggle with as they try to build healthy habits in their own lives?
[Hayden] With our 20 years of combined experience, we’ve truly seen A LOT. But the main themes we see again and again are:
- The all or nothing mindset, believing that if you can’t do something perfectly, you might as well not do it at all.
- Approaching fitness and health as a chore, something that “has” to be done, and is not enjoyable.
- Believing there is only one way to do things, like boring, restrictive eating or intense gym workouts to stay in shape.
[Nikki] So many people struggle with stress, overeating, lack of energy, cravings and feeling stuck overall. And this has really increased since 2020 when the world was full of worry, stress and fear. Being isolated really affected mental health and resiliency (my own included!), and it’s so important to share this openly.
[Hayden] Almost everyone we work with says that eating healthy and exercising regularly is the first thing to go when life gets tough or busy. But we want this to be the opposite! Self care should always come first, because it’s not selfish, it’s necessary.
[Kelsey] So what does it take to truly make a lifestyle change like you have, to make something stick?
[Nikki] Firstly, you need to believe that something can be different, and have a vision you can come back to when things get hard. To let go of the black-and-white, single-track mindset that tells you there’s only one way to achieve your goals, like weight loss, a stronger body or having more energy. There are SO many paths toward feeling good and happy, and it’s often a process of trial and error to find what works for you. Experimenting and consistency is key to finding that.
[Hayden] If your habit constantly feels like a burden or something you don’t enjoy, your lifestyle change won’t stick. It will always feel like going uphill and sustainability doesn’t exist, so it’s important to find something you truly enjoy doing.
[Kelsey] How would you say nature + the Calgary outdoors has helped you maintain this healthy lifestyle?
[Nikki] Being active outside is the greatest way to do it! All of your senses are activated, you feel different sensations in your body, which makes you more alive, aware and connected. Nature is health and abundance, it’s always in perfect harmony (even though we mess it up sometimes). It shows us that we can be that too, what we’re meant to be, even when conditions aren’t perfect.
[Hayden] For us, that means spending time grounding barefoot in Bowness Park, cold dipping in the Elbow River, wild foraging for herbs and medicines outside of the city, and experiencing the rhythmic flow of seasons here in Calgary.
[Nikki] From 2013-2021, I spent a lot of time in Calgary parks with the Yummi Yogis food truck — maybe you remember the green truck with purple flowers?! We were often posted up at Prince’s Island Park during Folk Fest, St. Patrick’s Island, Baker Park, Central Memorial Park, and around the Glenmore Reservoir. I loved spending so much time in our outdoor spaces.
[Kelsey] What have you personally found to be the biggest benefits of spending more time outdoors?
[Nikki] Don’t you just feel better when you’re outside?! There are SO many health benefits when you get outdoors regularly. The sun on your skin creates hormonal cascades, the fresh air brings clarity and aliveness, we reconnect with our own being, and it cuts down your mental chatter. It’s truly meditative to simply get out of the house.
[Hayden] When you step outside your door, it’s a full sensory experience, which allows you to become more aware, more present and even more grateful for this city and community we live in. We personally aim to get outside and move every day!
Join our free Parks Of Calgary Pioneers community. Inside this group, you can share your outdoor activities, get inspired by fellow Calgarians, have conversations, ask questions and meet new people all over the city.
[Kelsey] So if I want to start building new healthy habits that will actually stick, how would you tell me to get started?
[Nikki] Make small gradual changes that stack on top of each other — it makes the next thing you want to add so much easier. Consistency gets easier as you gain momentum, so it’s really about just getting started. When you start taking care of the basics, you’ll naturally notice more joy in your life.
[Hayden] Another thing you can do is to recognize that you don’t need immediate results to keep going. Instead, trust that the results are coming as you continue to build your habit. After years or even decades of patterning your brain towards certain behaviours and habits, it takes time to change them.
[Nikki] Thanks to the diet pill and “quick fix” industry, it’s easy to think you can change your whole life by snapping your fingers, but that only sets you up for disappointment and failure. So it’s about having the right mindset, and finding something you can do consistently and joyfully.
[Kelsey] You mentioned mindset. How does our thinking affect our overall success with new goals, whether that’s wellness, fitness or anything in life?
[Nikki] Your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health are intertwined, so having a positive mindset is the foundation. When you aren’t feeling well in your body and mind, being open to change is the best place to start.
[Hayden] It sounds cliche but it’s true — having a positive attitude toward whatever you’re going through can change the way things play out in your life. If you believe everything is happening FOR you, instead of TO you, this mindset alters the actions you take. If every situation, even when it’s HARD, is an opportunity to learn and grow, you can shift it in your favour.
[Nikki] It’s easy to get stuck in the mindset when it feels like the world is out to get you, but TRULY the thing you can control in every moment is your energetic state. How you react to the world around you.
Dr. Benjamin Hardy says “there is nothing from your past that can’t be turned into growth.” We really believe that finding a community that inspires you and supports you is essential, like the one you’re creating here at Parks Of Calgary. Because it’s easy to say you’re going to make health a priority, but it’s a whole other thing to actually put that into practice.
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We were SO inspired by our conversation with Hayden and Nikki, two local Calgarians who have completely transformed their health and wellness routine, and we hope it inspires you too. Because when you build a healthy routine and a connection with your body, it can completely change your approach to health and how you live your everyday life.
Want To Start Your Healthy Habits Today?
Join our 30-Day Outdoor Movement Challenge that starts on November 1, 2024! Not only will we encourage you to get outside at least 5x/week, but we’ll hold you accountable, you can meet new people in real life, and even win local business prizes — by simply getting outdoors!
